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SolaxMonitor User Manual: complete setup and app guide

31 min read · 6,112 words SolaxMonitor user manualSolaxMonitor guideSolax Collector setup

Contents

  1. What is SolaxMonitor
  2. What to prepare before the first launch
  3. Account creation, trial and subscription
  4. First step-by-step setup
  5. Install Collector
  6. Checking that data is flowing
  7. Main application screens
  8. System settings
  9. Tariffs, spot prices and financial calculations
  10. Automation and Modbus control
  11. EV charger / wallbox
  12. Profile, billing, export and support
  13. Mobile Application and PWA
  14. Problem Solving
  15. Security and Privacy

1. What is SolaxMonitor

SolaxMonitor is an independent application for users of SolaX inverters. Shows production, consumption, battery, network, EV charger, tariffs, spot prices, forecast production and automation in one place.

The current version of the application is mainly built on SolaxMonitor Collector. Collector is a small program that runs at your home on the local network, reads data from the inverter and securely sends it to your account in SolaxMonitor.

For the full experience, we recommend the Collector on a device that runs 24/7:

A laptop or regular desktop can also be used, but the data will have gaps whenever the computer is asleep or turned off.

SolaxMonitor is not an official application of SolaX. It is an independent monitoring and automation tool.

2. What to prepare before the first launch

Before registering, it's a good idea to have:

Example of a local IP address: 192.168.1.100. Do not use extraneous values ​​from instructions; you can find the real IP in the router or dongle settings.

The dongle password is usually listed on the label of the WiFi/LAN dongle. For some installations, it may be related to the serial or registration number of the dongle.

3. Account creation, trial and subscription

  1. Open https://solaxmonitor.com.
  2. Click on login or register.
  3. Enter your email and password.
  4. After logging in, the application verifies your trial or active subscription.
  5. If you do not have active access, the application will redirect you to the Pricing page.

SolaxMonitor supports trial, monthly subscription and Lifetime access. Billing is managed in the profile via Stripe or via the mobile platform if you have acquired access in the mobile application.

After a successful login, the new user's onboarding starts automatically.

3.1 Registration of a new account

When registering, use an email to which you have long-term access. Through this e-mail, you will deal with login, support, billing and any renewal of access.

Recommendations:

3.2 Login of existing user

If you already have an account, log in with the same email. After logging in, the application loads the settings from the server and, based on them, decides whether to let you directly into the Dashboard or display the onboarding.

If you see pricing after logging in, it usually means one of the following:

In case of a temporary error, try refreshing the page. If the status does not match, write to support and attach the account email.

3.3 Trial and paid access

The trial is used so that you can test the application with your own system. The most important thing is to run Collector during the trial, because without it you will not see the full potential of the application.

Paid access unlocks protected parts of the application. If you have a Lifetime plan, access is one-time and does not renew monthly. If you have a monthly plan, you can find payment management in your profile.

4. First step-by-step setup

Onboarding has 10 main steps. Its purpose is to set language, Collector, locale, FVE parameters and optional EV functions.

4.1 Language

Select the application language. The language can later be changed to Settings.

The language affects the texts in the application, onboarding and platform-specific instructions in the downloaded Collector ZIP. If there are no instructions for the selected language in the ZIP, the application will use an English fallback.

4.2 Introduction

The application will briefly explain what it will set up. Continue with the next button.

Technical data is not yet saved in this step. This is just for guidance to make it clear that you prepare the account first and then Collector.

4.3 Data source

The current product path is Collector-powered monitoring. Collector is a supported method for:

Consider older cloud-only or direct browser-to-inverter approaches as legacy/limited paths. For full product use Collector.

In practice this means:

4.4 Installing Collector

Select the platform on which Collector will run:

After clicking on the platform, the app will download the SolaxMonitor.zip ZIP package. The package contains Collector, an installation file and a platform-specific README. The collector token is replenished during download, so the common user does not need to copy it manually.

When choosing a platform, be guided mainly by which device runs the most:

PlatformWhen to choose itNote
Synology NASyou have Synology on 24/7best choice for uninterrupted history
QNAP NASyou have a QNAP with Container Stationsimilar to Synology
Raspberry Piyou want a cheap standalone devicegood for technical users
MacMac runs often or all the timewith the laptop there will be gaps during sleep
WindowsPC runs often or all the timewatch out for sleep and reboot

After downloading the ZIP, always unzip it first. Do not run the installation files directly from the ZIP archive.

4.5 Connection Check

In Collector-first onboarding, the application does not test the old SolaX Cloud credentials or a direct browser-to-inverter connection. The data only appears when the Collector is running and sends its first reading.

If Collector is not running yet, you can complete the onboarding and install later in Settings or Collector Status.

After successful installation of Collector, the first data usually appears within 30 to 90 seconds. If it does not appear, continue with the chapter Troubleshooting.

4.6 Location

Specify the installation location. Mainly used for weather and solar production forecast.

You can enter a city, village or coordinates. The exact address is not necessary. A location in the vicinity of the installation is usually sufficient for prediction.

Location affects:

4.7 System parameters

Enter FVE performance, battery capacity and basic installation information. This data helps with financial calculations, forecasting and battery overview.

Typical values ​​can be found in the contract, handover protocol, documentation from the installation company or in the configuration of the inverter.

Highlights:

4.8 Panels and strings

Set the orientation, pitch and power of the strings. A more accurate configuration will improve production forecasting.

If you have one roof area, one string or one set of panels is enough. If you have panels on multiple sides of the roof, set up multiple strings.

Orientation:

If you don't know the exact values, start with an estimate. You can edit them later in Settings.

4.9 EV charger

If you are using SolaX wallbox, you can enable EV functions already in onboarding. The wallbox IP and password belong to the Collector setup or later setup.

If you don't have wallbox, skip this step.

EV functions are not necessary for normal FVE monitoring. Only turn them on if you actually have a wallbox that you want to monitor or control.

4.10 Completion

At the end of the onboarding, it saves the settings to the account. Once complete, the application will open.

If the save fails, please check your internet connection and try the step again. After successful completion, the onboarding will no longer appear at the next login unless you manually reset it or the server has no saved completion status.

5. Install Collector

The Collector must run in the local network from which it can reach the inverter. After installation, it reads local values ​​and sends them to SolaxMonitor.

5.0 How to know the correct IP address of the inverter

The local IP address is the address of the device on your home network. It most often starts with 192.168., 10., or 172.16. to 172.31..

Options to find IP:

  1. Open the router administration.
  2. Find the list of connected devices.
  3. Look for a device named SolaX, inverter, WiFi dongle or similar.
  4. Set a DHCP reservation so that the IP address does not change.
  5. Verify that the device with Collector can reach this IP.

If you're not sure, use the router's MAC address or dongle name. Do not use an IP address from someone else's manual.

5.1 Windows

  1. Download Collector for Windows.
  2. Extract the ZIP.
  3. Run install-windows.bat.
  4. If the Windows SmartScreen displays a warning, click More info → Run anyway.
  5. Enter the inverter IP, dongle password and measurement interval.
  6. The installer copies Collector to a local folder, creates a launcher, and sets it to run after login.

The Windows computer must be turned on. When sleeping or powered off, the Collector does not send data.

After installing the Windows installer:

If the data is not restored after restarting Windows, open the Task Scheduler and check the SolaxCollector task.

5.2 Mac

  1. Download Collector for Mac.
  2. Extract the ZIP to the Downloads folder.
  3. Run the installation file.
  4. If the macOS installer blocks, use the instructions in the application: Terminal one-liner or System Settings → Privacy & Security → Open Anyway.
  5. Enter the inverter IP, dongle password and measurement interval.

For uninterrupted history, an always-on Mac or Mac mini is better.

macOS may block the first boot because the installer is not an app signed through the App Store. This is common. The fastest way is to use the command shown directly in the onboarding step. It removes the quarantine flag, sets executable rights and opens the installer.

5.3 Raspberry Pi

  1. Download Collector for Raspberry Pi.
  2. Copy the ZIP to Raspberry Pi.
  3. Connect via SSH or open a terminal on the Pi.
  4. Extract the ZIP.
  5. Run the installer via sudo.
  6. The Installer will set up a service that will start even after a reboot.

The Raspberry Pi is a suitable solution for 24/7 operation.

After installation, Collector should run as a systemd service. Basic control typically takes place via service status and logs. If you restart the Pi, the service should restart automatically.

5.4 Synology NAS

  1. Install Synology Container Manager / Docker.
  2. Enable SSH if you want to use the installation script.
  3. Upload the extracted ZIP to NAS.
  4. Connect via SSH.
  5. Run install-synology.sh.
  6. Installer copies the files, creates docker-compose.yml, builds the image and starts the container.

In the Container Manager, verify that the solax-collector container is running.

Synology installation is convenient because NAS usually runs continuously. If the container crashes after starting, the most common causes are the wrong IP of the inverter, the wrong dongle password or a network from which the NAS cannot reach the inverter.

5.5 QNAP NAS

  1. Install Container Station.
  2. Enable SSH.
  3. Upload the extracted ZIP to NAS.
  4. Connect via SSH.
  5. Run install-qnap.sh.
  6. The installer builds the Docker container and starts it.

Check container status and logs in Container Station.

For the QNAP, it is important that the Container Station is enabled to build the image from the supplied Dockerfile and that the container uses network mode to enable communication with the inverter in the LAN.

5.6 What Collector needs

Collector typically needs:

Never send Collector token publicly. If you suspect that it is leaked, refresh the token in the application and reinstall Collector or modify the configuration.

5.7 Which interval to choose

The default interval is 10 seconds. This is the recommended value for routine monitoring.

A shorter interval does not guarantee better data and may unnecessarily load the dongle or the network. A longer interval is suitable if you have a weaker device, a slower network or you do not need a detailed live view.

5.8 Update Collector

When we release a new version of Collector, the easiest way is to download the new ZIP from the app and install again. The existing token is reused during the download, so there is usually no need to manually generate a new token.

After updating, check Collector Status to see if it shows the expected version and recent last contact.

6. Checking that data flows

After starting Collector, wait about one minute and open:

If the data does not appear:

  1. Verify that Collector is running.
  2. Verify the IP address of the inverter.
  3. Verify dongle password.
  4. Check that the device with Collector is in the same network as the inverter.
  5. Check the container log on NAS.
  6. Open Collector Status in the application and, if necessary, download the support snapshot.

6.1 What typical states mean

StatusMeaningWhat to do
Online / recentCollector recently chimed ineverything is fine
No data yet not yet received the first readingwait check Collector
Always datathe latest data is oldercheck if the device is running
Invalid tokentoken in Collector does not match accountdownload a new ZIP or refresh the token
Inverter unreachableCollector does not reach the inverterverify IP, network and dongle
Password/auth errorthe inverter rejects the passwordverify dongle password

6.2 What to send to support

When writing to support, do not send passwords or tokens. Ideal is:

7. Main application screens

7.1 Dashboard

Dashboard is the main screen. Shows the current state of the FVE:

If the data is old or missing, check Collector first.

Mainly watch on Dashboard:

If the import and export look opposite, there may be a problem with the measurement wiring, the CT terminal or the interpretation of the inverter values.

7.2 Analytics

Analytics shows historical charts and reports. Use it to check trends, daily values, consumption, production and financial impacts.

Practical use:

If historical data is missing, usually Collector was not running in that period.

7.3 Battery

The Battery page displays battery status, charging, discharging, SOC progress and life estimates. The accuracy of the calculations depends on the correctly entered battery capacity and data from the inverter.

Use it for:

7.4 Forecast

Forecast uses weather and panel configuration to estimate future production. The more accurate the location, string performance, orientation and slope, the better the result.

Forecast is not a manufacturing warranty. It's a planning aid. Use it, for example, to decide when to run a larger appliance, when to charge your car, or when to expect surpluses.

7.5 EV Charger

The EV Charger page shows wallbox, charging power and relevant EV statistics. It will only display meaningful data when the EV feature is on and the Collector has access to the wallbox.

If the EV page shows an empty status:

7.6 Tariffs

Tariffs is used to set purchase and redemption prices, tariff periods, spot prices and historical tariffs. These values ​​affect financial calculations throughout the application.

After changing the tariff, always check:

7.7 Automations

Automations concentrates rules for spot prices, SOC, PV, EV and inverter control. Modbus writes and remote commands require Collector.

Always check the history of the rules on this page. If the rule does not run, the history will usually show which condition blocked it.

7.8 Collector Status

Collector Status is the first place for diagnostics. You will see the last contact, Collector version, platform, errors, token status and the option to download a secure support snapshot.

After each installation or update of Collector, open this page and verify:

7.9 Data Points

Data Points is a technical summary of incoming values. Handy for debugging or support.

You don't have to use it every day. It's especially useful when a chart or graph looks suspicious and you want to verify more raw values.

8. System settings

The Settings page contains both the application configuration and the FVE.

Typical areas:

Enter sensitive data, such as dongle passwords, only in the application or in the Collector installer. Do not send them to email or public chat.

After changing an important setting, use the save button if available on that section. The application saves some values ​​after an explicit action so that an accidental local change does not overwrite the server data.

8.1 Language and Appearance

Changing the language will affect the texts in the application. Appearance and performance profile help adapt the application to weaker devices or mobiles.

If the application seems slow, turn on a more economical performance profile.

8.2 Location and Forecast

The site is used for weather and forecast. Update it if you move or change the installation location.

You do not need to enter the exact address. The approximate location of the installation is important.

8.3 FVE and Battery

Check panel performance, battery capacity, installation date and other parameters. Bad values ​​can distort forecast, economy and battery estimates.

8.4 PV strings

If you have multiple roof orientations, set up separate strings. For example, one part of the roof to the east and the other to the west should not be described as one south face.

8.5 Notification

Use notifications for:

If you're getting too many notifications, turn off individual types instead of turning off all notifications.

8.6 Sync and storage

The settings are saved to the account. If you use multiple devices, they should see the same configuration after logging in.

If the settings don't seem to have saved, check:

9. Tariffs, spot prices and financial calculations

The right tariffs are essential for a realistic financial evaluation of the FVE.

On the Tariffs page you can:

If you change supplier or tariff, create a new period with a new validity date. As a result, historical calculations will not apply today's price to old data.

Spot prices change price after hours. The resulting accounts may vary based on fees, distributions, taxes and the terms of the specific contract.

9.1 Fixed tariff

Use a fixed tariff if you have a simple purchase price and a simple redemption price. Enter both values.

If you do not have a redemption, enter zero or the corresponding value according to the contract.

9.2 TOU tariff

Use THAT tariff if you have different prices by time. Typically a day/night rate or multiple time blocks.

For each period, check:

9.3 Spot tariff

The spot tariff is based on day-ahead prices and changes hourly. Use it only if your contract really follows spot prices.

The spot price in the application may not include all invoice items. Distribution, fees, taxes and supplier's markup may be charged separately.

9.4 Historical periods

When the tariff changes, do not insert a new price by overwriting the old value without a date. Create a new period. The application can then calculate older data according to the old tariff and newer data according to the new tariff.

10. Automation and Modbus control

Automation allows you to respond to spot prices, SOC batteries, PV performance, EV charging status and other conditions.

Examples:

Important:

  1. First, clarify the goal of the rule.
  2. Set the conditions as narrowly as possible.
  3. Make sure you have Collector active.
  4. Save the rule off if you are not sure.
  5. Turn it on for a short test window.
  6. Track automation history.
  7. Verify the behavior of the inverter or wallbox.

10.2 What the rule can block

The rule may not run if:

10.3 Security by Automation

Automations can change the mode of the inverter. Do not use them as a substitute for professional adjustment of the FVE protective elements. If you are unsure of a particular Modbus command, verify it first on a small change and observe the result.

11. EV charger / wallbox

Use the EV functions if you have a SolaX wallbox or a supported EV device.

Basic procedure:

  1. Turn on EV features in onboarding or Settings.
  2. When installing Collector, enter the IP of wallbox if you have it.
  3. Enter the wallbox dongle password if it is different from the inverter password.
  4. Verify the data on the EV Charger page.
  5. Set the EV automation in Automations.

If EV data is missing, check wallbox IP, password, network and Collector log.

11.1 What the EV page shows

According to the available data, the EV part can display:

11.2 EV automation

Set EV automation in Automations. Typically, this is overnight charging, charging based on spot prices, or logic to prevent individual rules from overcharging each other.

12. Profile, billing, export and support

The Profile page is for account and support.

You can find here:

Export and support snapshots intentionally do not contain tokens, passwords, IP addresses, serial numbers, exact location or other sensitive device credentials.

Deleting an account or saved history is a destructive operation and is handled through support with identity verification.

12.1 Change of Email

When you change your e-mail, the application can send a confirmation to the new address. Until the change is confirmed, use the original login email, unless the application indicates otherwise.

12.2 Password Change

To change your password, enter your current password and a new password. After the change, we recommend logging out of other devices if you suspect that someone knew the old password.

12.3 Subscription Management

You manage the monthly plan via the billing portal. Lifetime access is one-time and does not normally require refresh management.

If you paid through a mobile app, part of the management can be done through the Apple App Store or Google Play.

13. Mobile Application and PWA

SolaxMonitor can be used:

The web, PWA and mobile apps use the same account. Data and settings are synchronized via the server.

On mobile, the layout adapts to the smaller screen. The main work remains the same: Dashboard, Analytics, EV, Settings and Profile.

13.1 PWA on desktop

You can add SolaxMonitor to your desktop in your web browser. This gives you an app-like icon and quick access without searching the web.

The procedure depends on the browser:

13.2 Mobile Restrictions

A mobile phone is not a suitable device to run Collector. The phone often sleeps, changes network and is not available 24/7. Therefore, run Collector on NAS, Raspberry Pi, Mac or PC.

14. Troubleshooting

Data is not displayed

Check procedure:

  1. See if Collector Status shows the last contact.
  2. If not, solve the device with Collector first.
  3. If Collector is running, look at its log.
  4. If the log reports an inverter error, solve the IP or password of the dongle.
  5. If the log reports an error sending to the application, solve the Internet or token.
  6. If the log looks good, wait one to two minutes and refresh Dashboard.

Data is old or delayed

Typical example: Collector running on a laptop. Data comes in during the day, but the laptop goes to sleep at night. In the morning, the application then shows the old night data. The solution is to disable sleep or move Collector to NAS/Raspberry Pi.

Windows installer cannot be started

If the window closes quickly, run install-windows.bat from the Command Prompt. Thanks to this, you will see an error message. The most common problem is missing collector.js in the same folder or unzipped ZIP.

Mac installer is blocked

If macOS reports that the file does not have permission to execute, it usually means that the execute bit is missing. Terminal command in onboarding will fix this automatically.

NAS container crashes

In the log, look mainly for:

If the NAS can't ping the inverter, the app won't fix it; it is a local network problem.

EV charger does not show data

Automation did not execute the command

If the rule is triggered in history but the inverter does not respond, the problem is Modbus availability, firmware, command type, or other inverter logic overwriting the command.

Import and export look reversed

If the application shows an import when you expect an export, or vice versa:

One value alone may not be enough. What is important is whether the entire energy flow fits.

Forecast does not fit

Forecast may be inaccurate if:

Take Forecast as a planning estimate, not guaranteed production.

Financial calculations do not match the invoice

Check:

The application calculates according to the entered tariffs. If the supplier charges additional items, it is necessary to take them into account manually or take the calculation as a guide.

After logging in, I see the onboarding again

Possible causes:

Try refreshing the page first. If onboarding keeps showing up even after it's complete, write to support.

15. Security and Privacy

SolaxMonitor works with sensitive data, so follow a few rules:

Collector reads data on your local network. The application displays the data stored in your account and uses it for dashboards, graphs, tariffs, forecasting and automation.

15.1 What to never post publicly

Never publicly post:

The IP address from the home network is usually not Internet-reachable by itself, but combined with other data can help identify the configuration. Therefore, the Support snapshot does not include it on purpose.

15.2 How to handle support securely

Best practice:

  1. Open Profile or Collector Status.
  2. Create a secure snapshot.
  3. Add your own problem description.
  4. Do not add passwords or tokens unless explicitly asked by support.

15.3 When to Restore Collector token

Renew the token if:

Collector needs to be updated after token renewal, otherwise the old installation will stop sending data.

Quick check after complete setup

When finished, it should be:

If you are not sure, write to support@solaxmonitor.com.

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